Kamloops drivers apparently forgetting texting and driving is illegal

KAMLOOPS – Fines and enforcement for distracted driving have been going up across the province, but residents in Kamloops don't seem to be getting the message.

Between July and September of this year, the traffic unit of the Kamloops RCMP issued 174 violation tickets for driving while using a cell phone.

“There still is a large portion of the population that are texting and utilizing their cell phone," Kamloops RCMP Supt. Brad Mueller said at a police committee meeting today, Oct. 24.

It's not the only traffic violation officers are concerned about. Police set up three counter attacks in the city this quarter to combat impaired driving.

They handed out 19 24-hour driving suspensions this quarter, a 32 per cent increase from the 13 suspensions handed out during last year's third quarter.

More people were also caught drunk driving, with 93 infractions handed out, a 25 per cent increase from the 70 infractions in last year's third quarter.

Eighteen people were nabbed for driving under the influence of drugs, up 22 per cent from the 14 infractions during this period last year.

Three people refused to provide breath samples this quarter, compared to zero refusals during this period last year.

Mueller says the reason for the spike in tickets is because of increased enforcement by RCMP. There have also been no fatal collisions in Kamloops between July and September.

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